The report lays out a kind of textbook for how apply Biomimicry design principles. This process begins with a nuanced understanding of place by examining one's biome--a region defined by a community of plants and animals that have evolved to survive in a specific climate.

The next steps involve identifying how nature problem-solves, and applying these concepts. For example, in the temperate broadleaf forest, erosion is minimized by a diversity of textures, from leaves and bark to organic litter on the forest floor and acidic hummus of the soil. These can translate into design approaches, such as textured surfaces that are made from materials that retain water.